Yeah, goggles, to me at least, are a must. Even if you’re not going fast, windy days can really mess with you. Btw, the most money I’ve wasted over these past 4 years has been on gloves. I just kept buying pairs that were a little more expensive. By the time I was done, I’d spent like $200+ on different pairs, when i could’ve purchased a $150 pair from the start. I don’t think you need to spend that much, but spend a good $50, at least. I hear Heavenly has some of the best tree runs in the country. I knew someone who worked there.
[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:
[quote]kickureface wrote:
lake tahoe on saturday-monday?
good idea, do you have any suggestions?[/quote]
As a general rule, Tahoe’s slopes are pretty packed in that week’s window of time. Try to go mid week if possible; empty slopes are a purist’s dream.
I prefer (in order):
Kirkwood
Heavenly Gondola (great slopes, conveniently located…makes this compete with kirkwood)
Stage Coach
Sierra
Squaw
If you go to Squaw and stay at any hotels/lodges in that little strip of town, there should be a sushi restaurant at the END of the strip. It’s almost sunken so you’d take a few stairs down from street level. Some of the best, freshest sushi I’ve ever had. Squaw is in North Lake Tahoe.
If you go to South Lake (casinos, Heavenly resorts) there is a place called the Naked Fish. Amazing sushi. Also, I believe it’s in South Lake: check out this little Italian place called Scusa! Great place. Intimate.
And I am pretty sure it was Kirkwood that had The Fox and Hound lodge/diner. Good food.[/quote]
Damn, what a small world. I just got done from a day at Heavenly (very nice today) and am staying at the Ridge. We are all trying to figure out where to go to dinner and one chick mentioned Naked Fish…
I guess that’s what we’re havin’ tonight =)
Thanks for the suggestion!
The best place to get snowboarding gear is www.dogfunk.com they’re always running sales, right now most of the stuff from the 08/09 season is 60% or more off you can get some special blend stuff for super cheap. Its still good quality and good looking.
As far as the rest of it goes dragon/electric/oakley all make great goggles, and a good goggle will make a huge difference.
5000/5000 is a pretty low waterproof/breathability rate. I’ve ridden stuff from 5000 to 15000 and the only stuff that has really proven to keep me dry is a 15000 goretex volcom setup i got for a good deal. Be sure to get a good glove with high waterproofing to keep your hands warm and not frozen.
Have you ever snowboarded before?
Is someone going to teach you?
If you answered no to those questions, don’t waste money on expensive gear yet. Waste it once you are sure that you like snowboarding.
Face down in a snow drift and a thousand dollars lighter is no way to find out that you hate it.
Best investment- Get some lessons.
This is from someone who has spent the last 20 years watching people walk down slopes carrying a snowboard and looking fabulous.
Under Armour ski/boarding socks. Man those things have saved my feet.
By far and away the cheapest snowboard gear I’ve ever found.
It’s all last season’s stuff and usually around half the price of the exact same thing, in a different color, with 2010 written on the package.
For clothing, Sessions make really high quality stuff that looks good (not so much of the crazy neon ‘Xtreme’ stuff that other brands go for). Their jackets and pants also have a ton of extra features (avalanche reflectors, fleece linings and even inserts for speaker systems).
For gloves, I’ve found Burton to be the best.
Trust me, if you get bad gloves you’ll be miserable.
Nothing sucks like having to deal with ice water seeping into your hands all day.